sexualityandu.ca launches new look, great new features
One of the Internet’s best sexual health resources just got a little better. The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, has relaunched its award-winning sexual health website, www.sexualityandu.ca, adding some innovative new features and a sleek new image.
Check out some of the new features sexualityandu has to offer:
Contraception Comparisons:
Choosing a new contraception? Want to see how your contraception measures up against the other options out there? With sexualityandu.ca’s dynamic new contraception comparison chart, visitors can make side-by-side comparisons of all the contraceptive methods currently available in Canada. The comparison chart includes descriptions and up-to-date information on the effectiveness, advantages and disadvantages of each contraceptive method.
Try out the new Contraceptive Comparison Chart
If you’ve got questions, sexualityandu.ca has you covered.
With a new fully-indexed collection of FAQs answered by expert health professionals, sexualityandu.ca is Canada’s first choice for answers to sexual health questions. The site’s new easier navigation makes finding the answer you’re looking for a breeze.
Check out the site’s new FAQ section.
Getting the word out: sexualityandu.ca’s new Media Room
Connecting people with good information is what sexualityandu.ca is all about. The site’s new media centre provides journalists and researchers with our extensive pool of sexual health resources and multidisciplinary health experts. Designed as a one-stop source for information on contraception, sexually transmitted infections and a wide range of sexual health issues, the Media Room also offers:
- sexualityandu.ca advisories and releases
- Sexual health backgrounders and fact sheets
- Current Canadian statistical data and trends
- Free matte stories available for publication
Visit the Media Room
The effect of over-the-counter or advanced supply of Plan B among adolescents.
A recent study examined sexual behaviour risks in adolescents who were given either 3 advance packs of Plan B (emergency contraception), free pharmacy access to Plan B, or access at their local clinic. A total of 964 adolescents were enrolled, with 90 under the age of 16. At the time of enrollment, 24 % of the teens had experienced a pregnancy, and 24% had been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection (STI). The teens were followed up at six months and completed a questionnaire. More than 1000 women over the age of 20 were also in the study.
Overall, 320 of the adolescents used emergency contraception (EC) during the six month study period, with the highest use in the advanced provision group, followed by the pharmacy group and the clinic group (44%, 29%, 30%, P<= 0.001). Thirty-eight percent of teens under the age of 16 used EC, equal to the 38% of 16-17 year olds and slightly more than the 18-19 year olds (33%). The adolescent groups took the medication correctly 93% of the time.
Concerning high-risk behaviours, there was no difference between the groups who had easy access to EC and the teens who had to go to the clinic. The adolescents had a higher rate of unprotected intercourse than the adults also participating in this study (43% vs. 32%), although having access to EC did not change that rate for either group. The teens did not have higher rates of STI, multiple partners, or forced intercourse. The youngest group of teens had the highest pregnancy rate (14%) versus the other two teen age groups (12% ages 16-17 and 8% ages 18-19), but there was no difference between the advanced provision, pharmacy, or clinic groups.
Harper CC, Cheong M, Rocca CH, Darney PD, Raine TR.The effect of increased access to emergency contraception among young adolescents. Obstet Gynecol. 2005 Sep;106(3):483-91.
Results from the “Report Card on Contraception 2006”
The executive summary of the “Report Card on Contraception 2006” survey, which examined contraceptive practices and attitudes of young women and their mothers, is now available to the public. The survey, sponsored by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and conducted by Leger Marketing, was conducted by telephone and Internet.
The online portion of the survey gathered information from 855 young women aged 15-24 from all parts of Canada. Similarly, 510 women over the age of 30 with daughters aged 15-24 were contacted by telephone. Again, each region of Canada was represented.
There were several interesting findings. First, most mothers got their birth control information from their family doctors, but teens are just as likely to get information from friends or their mothers as they are from their family doctors. Among the girls who have had conversations with their mothers about sex, 63% of them spoke with their moms before their first sexual encounter. Sixty-nine percent of daughters spoke with their mothers about birth control before they started using it.
Moms are also being more assertive when it comes to speaking to their daughters about birth control and sex. Sixty-eight percent of moms initiated the conversation about sex, with 24% of daughters being the first ones to speak up. Although 64% of daughters were at least “comfortable” talking about sex with their moms, an overwhelming majority of Moms -- 95% -- were at least “comfortable” speaking to their daughters.
“Report Card on Contraception 2006, Executive Summary”
Leger Marketing Group
www.legermarketing.com
Lymphogranuloma venereum on the rise in Canada
Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a strain of the Chlamydia bacteria. Unlike the usual forms of Chlamydia infection, LGV is more invasive, infecting the lymph glands (usually in the groin or genital region). It can be passed to a partner through any kind of sexual contact (oral, genital, or anal), and transmission can be lowered by using condoms or other barriers.
LGV infection has typically been seen in men who have sex with men. If left untreated, LGV can cause scarring of the lymph nodes and genital/anal area. It can also lead to infection in other sites of the body (liver and brain) and in rare cases can lead to death. LGV can also cause an increased risk of getting HIV, hepatitis, or other STIs.
Until recently, LGV had been seen almost exclusively in third world countries in Africa, Asia, and South America. Now, the infection has started to appear in Europe and North America. Compared to the overall rates of Chlamydia infection, LGV infection is still very low. However, the increasing rates of the infection are worrisome. Thirty-three cases have been confirmed over the last 4 years, with another 33 cases suspected.
Symptoms usually start 3 to 30 days after exposure to the bacteria, and include a painless lump at the site of infection (usually mouth, genitals, or anus). Nearby lymph nodes then become swollen, and many people infected with LGV experience fever, chills, muscle aches, and pus-like discharge from the infection site. Testing for LGV includes a swab of the infected site and possibly blood work. Testing for other STIs will also be performed.
LGV can be treated with antibiotics, but they need to be taken for three weeks to completely eliminate the bacteria. Sexual partners must also be treated. If serious infection and scarring have already occurred, this may be permanent.
Information from the Public Health Agency of Canada
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/publicat/lgv/index.html
